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xxxHOLiC Episode 15 – Quick Summary
In xxxHOLiC episode 15, “Release,” Watanuki learned the truth of Yuuko’s warning about “words,” which was: “They are frightening, words…” Watanuki could see the damage the older twin sister did to herself with her words. Watanuki being Watanuki, he wanted to help. But what could he do? Was there anything Doumeki could do to help? And is the younger twin sister really as nice as she appears?8
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from xxxHOLiC Episode 15
Doumeki has come up with a self-defense strategy. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Watanuki tried hard to help the older sister. At one point, he even told her she should do more than just stop talking negatively about herself. She should be positive! In fact, he told her that she should never say something can’t be done unless she tries.
The advice sounded good – when it was used against him! Towards the end of the episode, Yuuko went on about hot a hot dish would be delicious, even in summer. Doumeki agreed. He even asked Watanuki to make it for his school lunch.
Watanuki protested that there was no way he could prepare a hot dish for a school lunch. Doumeki reminded Watanuki of what he had told the older sister.
“This is no time for you to be throwing my lines back at me!” he said (21:16).
Doumeki just plugged his ears.
Favorite Moment from xxxHOLiC Episode 15
Doumeki just picked her up and made sure she was out of Yuuko’s way! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: What? A Happy Ending?
First, do my eyes deceive me, or did we just get a happy ending? I think we just got a happy ending! I’m kinda glad about that. I liked the twins, and the older twin’s habit of tearing herself down is something I could understand and sympathize with. I’m glad they ended up in a realistically better place.
My favorite moment is one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss it kind of things. It’s a comment on the relationship between Doumeki, Watanuki, and Yuuko. I see these things happen, and I can see how they’re part of a pattern. But they leave me wondering: just how much does Doumeki talk to Yuuko off camera? Or does he have to talk to her – do they share some kind of innate understanding?
If this were an ordinary show, I’d say Doumeki was simply smitten with Yuuko. Because, you know – it’s Yuuko. But I think there’s more to it. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Towards the end of the episode, as the older sister tried to serve drinks to Watanuki and Doumeki, the younger sister came in. Under the guise of caring for her sister, she proceeded to rip her sister’s confidence apart. It go so bad that the older sister dumped hot tea on Doumeki.
Who didn’t even flinch.
Watanuki saw – or maybe imagined seeing – a web of negativity immobilized her. Aghast, Watanuki rushed to her side and knelt.
Delivery: But It Didn’t Look Happy the Whole Time!
He tried to reason with her; she wasn’t hearing him. “Please,” he said (16:57). “Don’t give up now!”
Her younger sister came to her other side. Under the guise of protecting her, she protested that her older sister needed protecting. Watanuki sagged; he couldn’t take on both of them, because he didn’t have the words.
What Watanuki saw horrified him. But he didn’t have the rhetorical skill to do anything about it yet. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
That’s when Yuuko showed up. She showed that she understood the situation perfectly. She took a step towards the two sisters. Without prompting, without a word, Doumeki grabbed the younger sister and hauled her to one side (17:30) to give Yuuko space to talk. Then he held her there.
I’m positive I didn’t see any hand sign or other communication from Yuuko. Doumeki just acted. There have also been times when he suggested that he knew he had to protect Watanuki – but turned it into a joke when Watanuki asked. What’s going on here? I trust the writer so much that I know these are intentional clues. That makes it a lot of fun to engage in conjecture!
What did you think of this episode’s theme? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
xxxHOLiC Episode 15: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- My Anime List (must be logged in to view): xxxHOLiC Episode 15 Discussion
- Star Crossed Anime: xxxHolic – 15 – Confidence, and the lack of it
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- xxxHOLiC Episode 01: The Inevitable
- xxxHOLiC Episode 02: Falsehood
- xxxHOLiC Episode 03: Angel
- xxxHOLiC Episode 04: Fortune-Telling
- xxxHOLiC Episode 05: Game of Letters
- xxxHOLiC Episode 06: Indulgence
- xxxHOLiC Episode 07: Hydrangea
- xxxHOLiC Episode 08: Contract
- xxxHOLiC Episode 09: Pinky Promise
- xxxHOLiC Episode 10: Lamplight
- xxxHOLiC Episode 11: Confession
- xxxHOLiC Episode 12: Summer Shade
- xxxHOLiC Episode 13: Transfiguration
- xxxHOLiC Episode 14: Seal
- xxxHOLiC Episode 15: Release
- xxxHOLiC Episode 16: Reunion
- xxxHOLiC Episode 17: Self-Mutilation
- xxxHOLiC Episode 18: Ground Cherry
- xxxHOLiC Episode 19: Unreasonable
- xxxHOLiC Episode 20: Atonement
Hell, I’m smitten with Yuuko.
Welcome to the club — we have jackets!
I totally think Doumeki and Yuuko have conversations off camera. I’ve had an inkling that there are quite a few events that happen off camera that we as viewers only get hints at. I also think that a lot more supernatural stuff happens to Doumeki that he lets on to Watanuki about. Honestly I would love to see a series from Doumeki’s point of view!
I’d watch a Doumeki-centric series!